BLOG | CreativeLifeMapping

Urban Heat Islands

By: Nadia Hossain Why does the city feel hotter than the countryside? The answer lies in the concrete jungle in front of you. As temperatures climb, a phenomenon called the "urban heat island" makes cities and suburbs significantly warmer than nearby rural areas. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), daytime temperatures in cities can run 1 to 7°F hotter than their greener surroundings. At night, some urban areas stay as much as 22°F warmer than rural z

From Earth Day to Climate Careers: A Lifelong Journey of Action and Hope

By: Eugenie Lewis Hello! I am a Climate Reality Leader and co-chair of the Youth Climate Action Network (YCAN). I also work as a community health professional and youth counselor with allcove Beach Cities and Creative Life Mapping in Redondo Beach. My journey in environmental action began in 1970, when I participated in the first Earth Day. As a high school student in Saint Paul, Minnesota, I helped organize an “Environmental Teach-In” exploring the impact of pollution on hum

The Hidden Pollution Beneath the Waves

Photo courtesy of: Surfrider Foundation By: Maya Nawachi Tiny particles that are a myriad of colors scatter through the ocean. While some are visible to the naked eye, most of them can only be seen with a microscope. Microplastics. Microplastics are plastics that are smaller than 5mm or less than the size of a pencil eraser. They come from synthetic fibers in clothing, microbeads in exfoliates, and the degradation of larger plastic particles through UV, wind, and waves. Aro

Invasive Species: A Habitat Concern

By: Grace Choi What do the common dandelion, the tall wild mustard, and the seemingly innocuous grey squirrel have in common? You guessed it! (maybe…) They are all invasive species in Southern California. Often overlooked, invasive species are a staple in our surroundings, yet have tangible impacts on our native preserves and wildlife spaces. When encountering invasive plants, it is usually best to uproot and dispose of them completely, especially if you find them on your pr

Ecosia: The Eco-Friendly Search Engine

by Grace Choi As Google and OpenAI build highly advanced AI tools such as Gemini and ChatGPT, they also build large energy-guzzling data centers that contribute to climate change . In contrast, Ecosia, a German search engine and organization, uses 100% renewable energy from solar plants to power its AI. However, its eco-friendly AI is only the tip of the iceberg: Ecosia is dedicated to planting trees to preserve our planet, directly funding global efforts to plant trees thr

The Future We Choose: Why Earth Day Still Matters

by Eshaal Sultan As April begins, people around the world prepare to celebrate Earth Month, leading up to Earth Day on April 22. This time of year is not just about planting trees or cleaning up parks—it is also about protecting biodiversity, which means the variety of living things on Earth. Biodiversity includes all plants, animals, insects, and even tiny microorganisms, and each plays an important role in keeping ecosystems balanced. For example, bees help pollinate plants

Top Secret Wings: How a Security Clearance Saved Our Backyard Butterfly

by Avinash Prasad On May 23, 2024, during LA Fleet Week, four hundred seventy nine male and female Palos Verdes Blue butterflies were released into a restored habitat at the Defense Fuel Support Point in San Pedro. The release was the result of a partnership between the Teaching Zoo at Moorpark College, the US Navy, the US Defense Logistics Agency, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Urban Wildlands Group, and the City of Ranc

What are Offshore Wind farms?

The first offshore wind farm was built in 1991 in Denmark covering the annual electrical consumption of around 2,200 households, setting a precedent to the modern offshore wind farms that are being built today. Offshore wind farms are groups of wind turbines that are located on the ocean and different from onshore wind farms which are wind farms on land that often use large swaths of unused lands. Unlike more traditional means of generating electricity such as oil, coal and

Building a Greener Tomorrow Through Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is becoming one of the most important answers to today’s environmental problems. As climate change, air pollution, and limited natural resources continue to affect communities, switching to cleaner energy sources is more important than ever. It helps protect the planet while also shaping the future of technology and innovation. Renewable energy comes from natural sources that do not run out, such as sunlight, wind, water, and heat from the Earth. Unlike fossi

The True Cost of AI: Energy, Emissions, and Your Electric Bill

As the use of artificial intelligence rapidly grows mainstream, the demand for high-quality AI tools and models is matched by companies building warehouse-sized data centers to effectively store and process large amounts of information . For the average American, AI is typically used to make daily life easier, whether it be organizing tasks, helping with homework, or answering queries. ChatGPT, the most ubiquitous among AI tools, is now thought to be the fifth most visited w